Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Five Reasons to Make Your Bed

Okay, so I don't know about you, but I was NOT one of those people who made their bed. Like, ever. We would make our bed on days we changed the sheets or when we had people over, but besides that? Nah.

I mean, I have a long history of not making my bed. I have to assume at some point in my youth my mom made me make my bed every day, but by high school that definitely was not the case. And not only that, I also stopped even using a top sheet for a while - so gross, especially when you consider how little I washed my comforter!!

I wouldn't say it was a New Year's resolution, but about halfway through January while I was still in the deep end of the disease that would not end (was it the flu?!) I decided I would start making it every day. Now, this did not have strong conviction behind it, because I've made that particular decision before and given up after two days. But I don't know what happened this time - something clicked! I've missed a day here or there (mainly on days when I have to be out of the house before the sun is up!) but for the most part my bed has been made every day for two weeks now. And you know what I learned?

1. It makes you feel accomplished

I mean, really, what else are you able to check off of your to-do list by seven in the morning? Or, you know, ten in the morning - no judgements here. But really, starting my day by accomplishing one tiny thing really sets you up to have a good morning and a productive rest of the day too. Making your bed just gets you started on the right foot.

2. It seriously takes one minute

I mean, really, let's face it, I'm pretty lazy. I would probably lay on the couch all day if the option was available. Making the bed on the regular always seemed weirdly daunting (probably because I was half awake whenever considering the task) but seriously? It takes one minute. One. Out of my entire day. Making my bed takes such a minimal amount of time, but makes such a big impact on the room.

3. Clean bed, clean room

If you've ever seen me sharing outfits in my bedroom on Instastories, you know that keeping the bed made is the least of my worries. I'm incredibly messy and have a tendency to make piles I never pick up. But - BUT - when the bed is made, it's the weirdest thing, but it makes me want to keep the room clean. Which is not a feeling I've ever felt before in my life. After taking the minute or two it takes to make the bed, I've been picking up anything on the floor and straightening up a teeny bit too. It's probably still less than five minutes total of my day, but that tiny bit of effort daily means my room has not once turned into a pigsty since I started on this making the bed journey. It even motivates Jeff to keep things cleaner too!!

4. No going back to sleep

I don't know about you, but sometimes I used to get up in the morning, take a shower, and then wind up back in bed. Does that ever happen to you? I would either try to catch a few more winks, or pull my phone or computer in there with me and snuggle on down. Now, I make the bed as soon as I get out of it, which forces me to get the day started. Now I have to do my morning Instagram scrolling in an upright position instead ;)

5. It just feels good!

Climbing into a neatly-made bed at the end of the night is just about the best thing ever. Yes, it is so much better than wrestling your sheets back into place or having to arrange blankets before you can climb on in.